Score edge protection

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to the protection of a raw edge which results in the opening of a container by tearing either completely or partially therefrom a panel portion. The panel portion is normally defined by a score line along which the container is ruptured, thereby permitting the displacement of the displaceable panel portion. The resultant raw edge is very sharp and may cause injury. It is proposed to mask the resultant raw edge by applying to the container a band of adhesive compound on at least one surface thereof with the adhesive compound being bonded to the container at opposite sides of the score line. When this displaceable panel portion is displaced, the compound will remain attached to the container surrounding the dispensing opening formed in the displacement of the panel portion and automatically mask the raw edge.

United States Patent [1 1 Bartels July 10, 1973 SCORE EDGE PROTECTIONPrimary Examiner-George T. Hall [75] Inventor: Herbert D. Bartels, PalosHeights, lll. Atmmey Dmer Brown Ram'k & Holt [73] Asslgnee: 1221:1523?!Isa; Company, Inc., [57] ABSTRACT Filed y 31 1970 This disclosurerelates to the protection of a raw edge App]. No.2 59,931

which results in the opening of a container by, tearing eithercompletely or partially therefrom a panel por tion. The panel portion isnormally defined by a score line along which the container is ruptured,thereby permitting the displacement of the diisplaceable panel portion.The resultant raw edge is very sharp and may cause injury. It isproposed to mask the resultant raw edgeby applying to the container aband of adhesive compound on at least one surface thereof with theadhesive compound being bonded to the container at opposite sides of thescore line. When this displaceable panel portion is displaced, thecompound will remain attached to the container surrounding thedispensing opening formed in the displacement of the panel portion andautomatically mask the raw edge.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmmwm $744,668

INVENTOR HERBERT o. BHRTELS SCORE EDGE PROTECTION BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION It is well known to provide easy opening containerconstruction by forming a weakening line in one panel of a containerwith the weakening line being in the form of a score defining adisplaceable portion of such panel. Normally, the displaceable panelportion is fully removable although in certain container construction itis feasible to permit the displaceable panel portion to remain attachedto the container panel in folded or hinged relation with respectthereto. The displacement of the displaceable panel portion is effectedby a tearing of the container panel along the score line. This obviouslyresults in a raw. edge which, if contacted by ones body, may cut orscrape one. This, obviously, is undesirable.

In the past, it has been known to apply a compound to one side of acontainer panel along a line of weakening formed therein with thecompound extending to both sides of the weakening line. Such anarrangement is shown in the patient to Rabak US. Pat. No. 2,723,778.However, in accordance with this patent, the weakening line is not inthe form of a score, but is in the form of a cut and the materialis inthe form of a sealing compound which ruptures during the opening of thecontainer without masking the cut edge defining the I dispensingopening. In the patent to Stec US. Pat. No. 3,447,713 there is discloseda device which is primarily an antiimplosion ring, but which isdisclosed as a score shield. However, in lieu of being simply a band ofcompound which may readily directly applied to the container panel, inStec the score shield is in the form of a relatively rigid ring which iseither adhesively bonded to the underside of an end panel or is securedin the corner between and in the unit in a container body. The Stecpatent in no way suggests the use of an inexpensive compound whichextends across a weakening line of an easy opening container panel andwhich is initially bonded to the container panels on opposite sides of aweakening line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, theundesired raw edge resulting from the displacement of a removable panelportion of an easy opening container by a tearing operation isaccomplished by simply applying to the container panel a band ofadhesive compound, which adhesive compound extends to opposite sides ofthe weakening line and which compound has sufficient cohesion to resisttearing apart whereby when a displaceable panel portion is displaced,the band of compound will remain adhered to the main portion of thecontainer and will mask the resultant raw edge.

A principal feature of the adhesive compound is that it may be aconventional compound which is readily available and which may beapplied in the same manner as compound which is now applied to end unitsfor the sealing of seams whereby the added expense of the adhesivecompound is relatively mercially feasible.

A further feature of the invention is that the adhesive compound, beingone acceptable in the canning industry will be well known for itsnon-contamination properties and therefore clearly acceptable.

A further feature of the invention is that the customary container isprovided with a corner into which the adhesive compound may flow withthe corner defining a boundary of the band of adhesive compound andfurthermote providing for a maximum of adhesion between the band ofcompound and that portion of the container which remains after thedisplaceable panel has been displaced.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an end unit incorporating theband of adhesive compound.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken alongthe line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shows specifically the relationship of theadhesive compound to the end unit construction.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken through one endof a container and shows the progressive stripping of the disclosablepanel portion from the band of compound.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar toFIG. 3 and shows thedisplaceable panel unit displaced and the band of compound masking'theresultant rawed g'e.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIG. 1 an end unit which is generally identified by thenumeral 5. The illustrated end unit 5 is a conventional easy opening endunit which has been modified in accordance with this invention.

As is best shown in FIG. 2, the end unit 5 includes a central end panel6 which is surrounded by a shock absorbing bead 7, the bead 7 beingpartially formed by a continuation of a chuck wall 8. The chuck wall 8terminates in the usual seaming curl 10.

The end unit 5, being an easy opening end unit, is provided with a lineof weakening in the form of score 11, defining a displaceable panelportion 12. The illustrated end unit 5 is in the form of a full openingend unit with the result that the displaceable panel portion 12 isformed of a major portion of the end panel 6and is entirely removable.However, the configuration of the score line 11 and the displaceablepanel portion 12 defined thereby may vary in accordance with the desiredconfiguration of the dispensing opening. It will also be readilyapparent that it is not absolutely necessary that the displaceable panelportion 12 be fully removable.

It is to be understood that the displaceable panel portion .12 will beremovable or displaceable in the customary manner and that for thispurpose the end unit 5 will be providedwith a selected form of pullmember (not shown) which may be secured to the panel portion low andtherefore com- 12 in any desired manner, such as by the illustrated inga very sharp raw edge. This raw edge, if engaged by ones fingers orhand, will often cut or scrape. In accordance with this invention, theraw edge will automatically be masked by means of a band 14 of adhesivecompound which is preferably secured to the underside of the end panel 6in alignment with the score line 11 and projecting on opposite sidesthereof, that is outwardly and inwardly thereof. The adhesive compound14 may be selected from well known types of adhesive compounds and ispreferably one which will directly bond to the coatings which arecommonly applied to end units. In the case of plain end units, it may beof the type which will directly bond to the plain metal of the end unit.

At this time, it is pointed out that the shock absorbing bead 7 ispartially defined by an internal flange 15 which is disposed adjacentthe score line 11 and which, together with the adjacent portion of theend panel 6 defines a corner 16. The flange 15, when it exists, may beutilized as a boundary for the adhesive compound of the band 14 as it isapplied. Also, by applying the adhesive compound to the band 14 in thecorner 16, a greater adhesion of the band 14 to the unit 5 outwardly ofthe score line 11 and to the displaceable panel portion 12 is assured.

The 'end unit 5 will be secured to a container body 17 in anyconventional manner, including the illustrated double seam 18 (FIG. 3).It will be seen that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, theband 14 of adhesive compound is fully applied to the end unit 5 prior tothe securement of the end unit 5 to the container body 17. This permitsthe ease of application of the adhesive compound and the adhesivecompound may be readily applied in any conventional manner, preferablyby extruding the same from a nozzle onto the end unit while the end unitis rotating. It is to be understood, however, that the invention doesnot preclude the application of the band 14 of adhesive compound afterthe seaming of the end unit to the container body and in the event theend unit is not provided with a shock absorbing bead, the adhesivecompound of the band 14 could extend into the comer of the container.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, it will be seen that when thedisplaceable panel portion 12 is being displaced with respect to theadjacent portion of the end panel 6 and rupture along the score line 11has been efi'ected, there is a peeling of the panel portion 12 from theband 14 although the adherence of the adhesive material of the band 14to the displaceable panel portion 12 will be sufficient to effect aslight pulling of the material of the band 14 around the resultant rawedge 20 of the end panel 6. This is best shown in FIG. 4 wherein the rawedge 20 is illustrated as defining a dispensing opening 21 formed in theend unit 5.

It is to be understood that adhesive material of the band 14 issufficiently cohesive so as to assure against the internal separationthereof while the panel portion 21 is being peeled therefrom.

While numerous adhesive compounds will known to can manufactures may beutilized in the formation of the band 14, specific tests were initiallysuccessfully run utilizing both the plain and coated end units with theadhesive compound of the band 14 formed of the following compounds:

I. No. 5021 Chem-o-Sol 2. Darex No. 1-DA-4B 3. A.M.C. No. Zep-55.

All of the above compounds are commercially available compounds wellknown to can manufacturers.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenspecifically illustrated and described, it is to be understood thatminor variations may be made in the disclosed method of protecting ascore edge without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new:

1. A container panel having a displaceable panel portion defined by aline of weakening and adapted to form a dispensing opening when saidpanel portion is displaced, and a band of adhesive compound secured toat least one surface of said container panel in alignment with said lineof weakening and extending on both sides of said line of weakening, andsaid band of compound having a. sufficient bond with said containerpanel portion to remain attached to said container panel when saiddisplaceable panel portion is displaced and sufficient cohesion toresist tearing apart and to be separated from said displaceable panelportion when said displaceable panel portion is displaced to mask aresultant raw edge formed along said line of weakening.

2. The container panel of claim 1 wherein said band of compound isformed of a readily extrudable material and is formed in place.

3. The container panel of claim 2 wherein said compound is aconventional gasket-type compound.

4. The container panel of claim 1 wherein there is a flange disposedadjacent to said line of weakening and defining in combination with saidpanel a corner, said band of compound extending into said corner andbeing bonded to said flange assuring a firm bond between said band ofcompound with said panel outwardly of said line of weakening.

5. The container panel of claim 4 wherein said flange is integrallyformed with said container panel.

6. The container panel of claim 4 wherein said flange defines a borderfor said band of compound during the application thereof.

7. The container panel of claim 4 wherein there is a positive bondbetween said band of compound and said displaceable panel portion.

8. The container panel of claim 1 wherein there is a positive bondbetween said band of compound and said displaceable panel portion.

1. A container panel having a diSplaceable panel portion defined by aline of weakening and adapted to form a dispensing opening when saidpanel portion is displaced, and a band of adhesive compound secured toat least one surface of said container panel in alignment with said lineof weakening and extending on both sides of said line of weakening, andsaid band of compound having a sufficient bond with said container panelportion to remain attached to said container panel when saiddisplaceable panel portion is displaced and sufficient cohesion toresist tearing apart and to be separated from said displaceable panelportion when said displaceable panel portion is displaced to mask aresultant raw edge formed along said line of weakening.
 2. The containerpanel of claim 1 wherein said band of compound is formed of a readilyextrudable material and is formed in place.
 3. The container panel ofclaim 2 wherein said compound is a conventional gasket-type compound. 4.The container panel of claim 1 wherein there is a flange disposedadjacent to said line of weakening and defining in combination with saidpanel a corner, said band of compound extending into said corner andbeing bonded to said flange assuring a firm bond between said band ofcompound with said panel outwardly of said line of weakening.
 5. Thecontainer panel of claim 4 wherein said flange is integrally formed withsaid container panel.
 6. The container panel of claim 4 wherein saidflange defines a border for said band of compound during the applicationthereof.
 7. The container panel of claim 4 wherein there is a positivebond between said band of compound and said displaceable panel portion.8. The container panel of claim 1 wherein there is a positive bondbetween said band of compound and said displaceable panel portion.